The spread of conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic posed a serious threat to democracy. Previous studies show that belief in such narratives can reduce normative political participation and increase the willingness to engage in non-normative and violent forms of participation.
The study by Jana Schneider and Josephine B. Schmitt examines which factors can counteract these harmful influences. The focus is on political self-efficacy and knowledge of the mechanisms behind conspiracy theories. Using an online intervention during the first lockdown in Germany (May 2020), the study investigates the influence of these factors on various forms of political participation. The results show that a better understanding of conspiracy theories may be associated with a lower willingness for non-normative political engagement.
To the journal article: https://www.medienpaed.com/article/view/1772
Schneider, J. & Schmitt, J. B. (2025). The Role of Political Self-Efficacy and Knowledge About Conspiracy Theories in Political Participation. Medienpädagogik – Zeitschrift für Theorie und Praxis der Medienbildung (59). https://doi.org/10.21240/mpaed/59/2025.04.25.X